Iran has the largest number of individuals and entities under active U.S. sanctions with regard to nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, followed by North Korea, State Department data showed Monday.
  

But the communist nation could replace Iran as the No. 1 target of U.S. nonproliferation sanctions if the sanctions on Iran are gradually lifted as Tehran fulfills its obligations in last week's landmark deal on its nuclear program.
  

According to the State Department list of sanctioned entities, Iran has 10 individuals and 30 entities subject to U.S. sanctions, followed by North Korea with five individuals and 11 entities and China with six individuals and five entities.
  

That may show the U.S. used stronger sanctions on Iran than on any other nations, and now that the U.S. reached the nuclear deal with Iran, it may impose stronger sanctions on North Korea so as to prod the regime to return to negotiations on its nuclear programs, diplomatic sources said.
  

The U.S. last imposed sanctions on Pyongyang in January in response to the North's massive hacking attack on Sony Pictures.

Three North Korean entities and 10 officials were sanctioned, including the Reconnaissance General Bureau, Pyongyang's primary intelligence organization. (Yonhap)